Plug valve



June 10, 1947. LSHAMER 2,421,379

PLUG VALVE Filed July 19, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. Xe/"MK/ fl merL. S. HAMER PLUG VALVE June 10, 1947.

, Filed July 19, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 \lllllllllll lll INVENTOR. le/afld J. flame BY Patented June 10, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEPLUG VALVE Leland S. Harrier, Long Beach, Calif.

Application July 19, 1944, Serial No. 545,601

9 Claims. I

This invention has to do with a plug valve and has particular referenceto constructions for eifecting seals'in such devices, it being a generalobject of the invention to provide a plug valve wherein unique,effective and simple sealing means are provided for the plug of thevalve.

A general object of my present invention is to provide a plug valvewherein the plug is rotatable and also shiftable lengthwise and whereinthere is an effective sealing means for the plug when it is lifted. tofacilitate rotation. The plug in the preferred construction is taperedand is adapted to be moved lengthwise to seat tightly and is shiftableso that it is released from the seat when it is desired to rotate it.The present invention provides a simple, eiiective seal for the plugpreventing leakage around the stem of the plug when the plug is lifted,allowing the usual packing gland around the stem to be repacked withoutleakage even though pressure is maintained on the valve.

Another object of my invention is to provide a unique and simplifiedarrangement for applying a sealing medium to a plug valve. .In theordinary plug valve channels or grooves are provided between the plugand its carrier or case, and sealing materials such as packings orgrease are introduced into the channels from the X- terior of thestructure. By my present invention I introduce sealing material througha stud i which also serves to retain the cap or bonnet in place andwhich holds the packing follower that normally retains packing aroundthe stem of the valve. The construction of the present inventionminimizes the number of parts involved in :3

the construction and minimizes and simplifies manufacture.

The various objects and features of my invention will be fullyunderstood from the following detailed description of a typicalpreferred form and application of the invention, throughout whichdescription reference is made to the'accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a valve embodying the present inventionshowing parts broken away to illustrate the internal construction, andFig. 2 is a vertical detailed sectional View of the constructionprovided by the invention.

The device of the present invention involves, generally, a body A, aplug B operable in the body, means C normally packing between the stemof the valve and the cap of the body, means D for packing between theplug and the body, means E for rotating the plug, means F forreciprocating the plug or shifting it axially in the body, and means Gfor sealing between the plug and bonnet of the body when the plug islifted, thus allowing the means C to be repacked while the valve isunder pressure.

The body A may be of the type commonly found in plug valves and inpractice its particular form or design will depend somewhat upon theparticular use to which it is to be put. In the drawings I have shown atypical body wherein there is a horizontally disposed conduit it and atransversely disposed plug case I I. The conduit II] is divided by thecase into two opposite aligned end sections. Suitable coupling means isprovided at the outer end of each of such sections. In the caseillustrated the cou pling means is in the form of flanges I2 formedintegrally on the ends of the conduit I0 so that the device can becoupled in a pipe line or with other apparatus through simple flangeconnections.

The case portion of the body A is arranged transversely of the conduitportion Ill and may be considered as being vertically disposed, as shownin the drawings. The case has a tapered opening I3 to rotatably carrythe plug B. The lower or small end of the case is closed by an end wallI4 while the upper or large end is closed by a bonnet or cap I5. In theparticular case illustrated the wall I4 is a solid, integral wall,whereas the cap I5 is detachable.

The plug B is of the general type common to plug valves and has atapered exterior surface it which fits the tapered opening I3 0f thecase II. An opening I! is formed transversely through the plug to passfluid, the plug being rotatable in the case so that the opening II canbe moved into and out of register with the opening I8 of the conduitsection I0 of body A. In the case illustrated I have shown an elongateopening I! in the plug as such form of opening is advantageous indevices of this kind, particularly when they are of large size.

The plug B has its exterior l6 finished to slidably fit the taperedopening I3 in the case I I and is proportioned as to length so that itslower end It is normally spaced slightly from the end wall it of thecase while its upper end 20 is normally spaced from the cap I5 of thebody. Through this construction the plug is somewhat shorter than theopening in the case which accommodates it, thus allowing forreciprocation or lengthwise movement of the plug in the case. If theplug is moved downwardly in the case or toward the small end of thetapered opening I3 it is brought into sealing engagement with the wallof the case, whereas if the plug is moved upwardly it is released fromthe case, freeing it for rotation.

The bonnet or cap 85, which closes the upper end of the plug case I i,is in the general form of a plate forming a closure for the case. Thecap is retained in place by two or more studs 2! which project upwardlyfrom the case i I to extend through openings in the cap. Nuts 22 arethreaded on the studs so that they can be tightened against the top ofthe cap in orde to clamp the cap to the upper end of the case. Inpractice a suitable gasket 23 is interposed between the cap and theupper end of the case to establish a tight joint between these parts.The cap I is provided with a central bore or opening 2d. The stem 25 ofthe valve C passes through opening The means C normally packing the stemof the valve with the cap I 5 involves a gland opening 26 formed in thecap I5 from its upper end to carry packin 21. A follower Z8 is slidablymounted on the stem 25 above the cap !5 to bear on the packing 2'1. Ears29 of the follower are slidably engaged on extensions 39 of the studs 2!and nuts 32* are threaded on the stud extensions 3t above the ears 29 sothat they can be tightened against the ears to force the followerdownward into pressure engagement with the packing 2i. By thus employingparts or extensions of the studs 2! to handle the operation of thefollower 28 I have provided a very simple, inexpensive, yet practicalconstruction.

The means D for packing between the plug C and the case. H involves,generally, channels or passages between the case and the plug, one ormore parts for introducing packing material into the said channels, andmeans for introducing packing into the ports. My present invention isnot particularly concerned with the formation, arrangement orconstruction of the channels provided between the plug and its case. Forpurpose of example I have shown an annular channel 30 in the taperedwall l3 of the case near each end of the case, to be beyond the ends ofthe opening I! through the plug and I have shown longitudinal channels3! connecting the annular channels 39. A supply port 32 is shownconnecting the annular channel 30 in the upper end of the case with theopening 382 provided in the upper end portion of the case to carry oneof the studs 2!. In accordance with my invention I provide a,longitudinal port 33 through the stud 2| which is arranged in theopening se The port 33 extends completely through the stud from one endto the other and in the preferred construction a check valve 34 isprovided in the lower end of the stud to allow packing material to beintroduced into the part 32 but to prevent its escape therefrom throughthe stud. Further, a suitable fitting 35 is provided at the upper end ofthe stud to cooperate with suitable equipment or apparatus that may beemployed in introducing packing material to the device. In many in.-stances grease is employed as the packing material, and therefore, Ihave shown a grease connection or grease fitting at 35.

With the construction and arrangement above described, packing materialsuch as grease can he introduced through the fitting $5 to passdownwardly through the port 33 in the stud so that it passes through thesupply port 82 to the channels established between the plug and itscase. Through this construction the packing material is introducedbetween the case and the plu without requiring special fittings ordevices on the case or plug. The stud through which thepacking materialis introduced is an active element of the construction being employed tohold the cap and has a part of the means for actuating the follower ofthe packing means 0. By my invention I have entirely eliminated theapplication of fittings or connections specially applied to the case orto the plug for the handling of the packing material.

The means E provided for rotating the plug in the case involves a head49 fixed on an extension 4! of the stem 25. The extension of the valvestem is of reduced diameter and has a round lower end portion 4 l and apolygonal upper end portion 4!. The head 40 is in the form of anenlargement or plug carried on the polygonal upper end portion il Thehead has an opening Q2 corresponding in shape to the part 4 l so thatthe head is held on the stem against rotation relative thereto. A nut 44is threaded on the tip portion 45 of the stem extension so that the headGil is clamped against the shoulder 46 of the stem which occurs betweenthe portions ll and ii. The head as is adapted to be engaged by a wrenchor suitable operating tool. In the case illustrated the head has aplurality of bar openings 5? formed in it to receive operating rods orbars.

The means F provided for reciprocating the plug in the case includeslegs 59 projecting upwardly from the cap l5 to carry a plate 5! oppositethe round stem extension 4|. An actuating member 52 is threaded in acentral opening in the plate 5| and has an opening 53 through which thestem part l! passes. The actuating member 52 being threaded in the plate5! can be moved up or down through rotation. To facilitate rotation ofthe member 52 I provide the member with projections or cars 55 whichhave bar openings 56.

The parts are arranged and related so that the operating member 52 canbe moved downwardly to act on the shoulder provided on the stem betweenthe main part of the stem and the extension portion M or can be operatedto move upwardly to act on the lower end of the head 46. In thepreferred construction I provide an antifriction bearing 10 between thelower end of the member 52 and the shoulder 60 and I provide anantifriction bearing H between the upper end of the member 52 and thelower end of the head 4!].

The means G provided by my invention for sealing between the plug andthe cap when the plug is lifted involves a seat provided on the lower orinner end face of the cap l5 and a corresponding or complementary seat8! provided on the upper end of the plug around the stem 25. In thepreferred construction I bevel or pitch the seats 89 and BIsubstantially as shown in the drawings so that there is a tapered orwedge fit between them and I finish, preferably grind, the seating orsealing parts 86 and 8! so that the seat between them is accurate andtight.

During normal operation of the plug, for instance when it is down andseated in its case, the seating surfaces 80 and 8! are separated, butwhen it is desired to operate the plug, that is, to turn it in itscase,I may if necessary first operate the means F by rotating the member sothat the plug is lifted in its case. If it is desired to repack means CI may lift the plug, causing the seat or face 3! on the plug to moveinto pressure engagement with the face or seat in the cap l5. Under thiscondition the plug is free of the tapered opening I3 in the case andthere is a seal around the stem so the means C can be released allowingthe packing 21 to be removed and replaced if necessary.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that I have, by mypresent invention, provided a simple, practical and effective plug valveconstruction wherein there is a simple, effective means for supplyingpacking material between the plug and its case, and where under normalcircumstances, or under normal operating conditions, the means G isoperable to pack around the stem of the valve preventing leakage aroundthe stem when that is desired.

Having described only a typical preferred form and application of myinvention, I do not wish to be limited or restricted. to the specificdetails herein set forth, but wish to reserve to myself any variationsor modifications that may appear to those skilled in the art and fallwithin the scope of the following claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A plug valve including a body, a plug rotatable in the body, thebody'including a cap arranged over the plug, a stud on the bodyretaining the cap on the body, and means establishingpacking between theplug and body including packing channels between the plug and body, thestud having a port through which packing can be introduced from theexterior of the valve to the channels.

2. A plug valve including a body, a plug rotatable in the body, the bodyincluding a cap arranged over the plug, a stud on the body retaining thecap on the body, and means establishing packing between the plug andbody including packing channels between the plug and body, the studhaving a port through which packing can be introduced from the exteriorof the valve to the channels, and a check valve controlling flow throughthe stud.

3. A plug valve including a body, a plug rotatable in the body, the bodyincluding a cap arranged over the plug, a stud on the body retaining thecap on the body, and means establishing packing between the plug andbody including packing channels between the plug and body, the studhaving a port through which packing can be introduced from the exteriorof the valve to the channels, and a fitting on the outer end of the studfor introducing packing material into the stud.

4. A plug valve including a body, a plug rotatable in the body, the bodyincluding a cap arranged over the plug, a stud on the body retaining thecap on the body, and means establishing packing between the plug andbody including packing channels between the plug and body, the studhaving a port through which packing can be introduced from the exteriorof the valve to the channels, a check valve controlling flow through thestud, and a fitting on the outer end of the stud for introducing packingmaterial into the stud.

5. A plug valve including a plug case with a separable cap, a plugrotatably mounted in the case and having a stem projecting through thecap, a stud projecting from the case and connected with the cap to holdit in place, packing means between the plug and case, there being a portthrough the stud for passing packing to said means, and packing meansbetween the stem and cap including a follower cooperatively connectedwith the stud.

6. A plug valve including a plug case with a separable cap, a plugrotatably mounted in the case and having a stem projecting through thecap, sealing faces on the plug and cap adapted to be moved intocooperative engagement, a stud projecting from the case and connectedwith the cap to hold it in place, pacln'ng means between the plug andcase, there being a port through the stud for passing packing to saidmeans, and packing means between the stem and cap including a followercooperatively connected with the stud.

7. A plug valve including a plug case with a separable cap, a plugrotatably mounted in the case and having a stem projecting through thecap, a stud projecting from the case and connected with the cap to holdit in place, packing means between the plug and case, there being a portthrough the stud for passing packing to said means, a check valvecontrolling flow through the stud, and packing means between the stemand cap including a follower cooperatively connected with the stud.

8. A plug valve including a plug case with a separable cap, a plugrotatably mounted in the case and having a stem projecting through thecap, a stud projecting from the case, a nut on the stud engaging the capto hold it in place, packing means between the plug and case, therebeing a port through the stud to pass packing to said means, and packingmeans between the stem and cap including packing in the cap, a followeron the stem engaging the packing, and a nut on the stud operating thefollower.

9. A plug valve including a plug case with a separable cap, a plugrotatably mounted in the case and having a stem projecting through thecap, sealing faces on the plug and cap adapted to be moved intocooperative engagement, means for operating the plug to move said facesinto cooperative engagement, a stud projecting from the case andconnected with the cap to hold it in place, packing means between theplug and case, there being a port through the stud for passing packingto said means, and packing means between the stem and cap including afollower cooperatively connected with the stud.

LELAND S. HAMER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,047,752 Specht July 14, 19362,066,250 Clark Dec. 29, 1936 2,119,766 Aderhold June 7, 1938 1,905,684C'offman Apr. 25, 1933 2,142,795 McFarlane Jan. 3, 1939 1,707,145 SimonsMar. 26, 1929 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 184,241 Great BritainJuly 31,1922

